Simon Grayson ‘Extremely Proud’ Of Team

Manager Simon Grayson had nothing but positive words for his players after they battled adversity of all kinds at Deepdale.

The Lilywhites ended the game with nine men as Joe Garner and Bailey Wright both saw red, but it took a stunning 30-yard strike from Kevin McDonald to earn a point for Wolves.

Daniel Johnson grabbed his fifth goal in eight games to put North End in front after only ten minutes and despite losing Joe Garner to a dubious straight red 20 minutes in they defended admirably and looked comfortable.

Bailey Wright was yellow carded twice in three minutes in the closing stages, leaving 15 minutes for the home side to try and hold on for the three points, but McDonald – who himself was very lucky to still be on the pitch having not been booked for throwing the ball away in a fit of pique in the first half and then going into the book in the second – curled an unstoppable shot into the top right corner in the first of five added minutes.

The manager spoke to PNE PlayerHD and reflected that forces beyond his team had cost them: “I’m extremely proud of all the players – of how we performed; how we competed – all the ingredients you need to try and win a game of football,” he said. “Ultimately today we have been let down by some other people who have cost us the game.

“The lads put an immense amount of effort in. They put their bodies on the line, showed quality at times and it has all been undone by factors beyond our control.

“I said to them after the game that last week I was disappointed with them, but the response was there on Tuesday night and today the amount of miles we have had to cover, the energy levels and the braveness that we’ve shown, you can’t speak highly enough of the players for what they have done.

“You expect that from them, because they are a good group, they don’t let us down too often and they can be proud of the way they have played today.

“I was pleased how we started the game. We passed the ball with a purpose, played on the front foot and then other circumstances have dictated what happened in the game.

“When we went down to ten men we got behind the ball, let them have it in certain areas. We do lots of sessions where we are overloaded, so you have to defend situations properly, but we got frustrated by decisions that didn’t go our way.

“The one bit of magic they produced ended up in the top corner. Jordan did what he had to do. He came for crosses, Tom Clarke and Bailey Wright were heading things and players were working hard and shuffling across. Everyone on that pitch contributed and can be hugely disappointed that they didn’t get their true rewards.”

You can watch a full seven minutes with the manager where he discusses the sendings –off, the addition of Adam Reach to the squad and more by logging on now to PNE PlayerHD by clicking here.